Steering Wheel Help & Advice

[sonicx]

Two Question for you guys and gals.
Mainly aimed towards the Cobra owners.

Question #1:

I know there were different steering wheels peope have optioned on their mustang (cobras)

10th anniversary steering wheel
FR500 Wheel
03/04 Cobra double wrapped leather wheel

*99/01 cobra wheels are the same as the 99-04 sterring wheels.

Now, are there any better over the other (above)? I'm curious of knowing what the differences are between these 3.

***Today, I purchased a used cobra steering wheel off a 03 termi (double wrapped).

Question #2:

How difficult is it to install a steering wheel? Can i do it myself without worrying that when im changing it, the airbag will pop after I reconnect the battery after it's changed?

(ANY help/ advice/ suggestion are welcomed please)

Thanks

[DNeinstadt]

I think the general procedure is:

Disconnect battery overnight, take off airbag with 10mm bolts from back of steering wheel, remove misc electrical, remove wheel with puller, reinstall I think..

Also, for the record, there were two different types of Terminator wheels. The '03 10th anniversary was a carbon fiber and had bumps at "10" and "2" as did the '04 Mystichrome steering wheel. Like the FR500. Standard Terminator wheels did NOT have bumps at 10 & 2. Just the 10th and Mystichromes.

Dan

[No1Ford]

Mystichromes :drool:

[p51mstg]

I can't remember why that I felt I needed to remove the steering wheel of my 05 GT, but I did it. No airbag deployment - just did what Dan described. For some reason, I don't think it was even pressed on (I don't have a puller, and it wasn't hard to remove).

At the fire dept. we try to do training on the technical side of auto extrication every year to stay current on everything going on - airbags and retraint systems, hybrids, you name it. We're told that an airbag system will hold an electrical charge for 30 minutes after you disconnect the battery.

Theoretically, the airbag "won't deploy" unless a bunch of sensors agree. There are inertial sensors, and if one is tripped but the other one isn't, then they won't deploy. A common example is a rollover, because there's very little front to back deceleration - it's all side-to-side. The sensors won't trip, and the airbags won't go off, even though it's a violent accident. I'm not sure how side-curtain airbags fit into that picture - there must be separate sensors for those.

Anyway, the theory goes that unless you short the wires out, an airbag should never deploy with the car sitting still. But, it still makes me really nervous.

[drop top]

I've had my airbag out a few times, hasn't popped yet...
I wouldn't say you need to wait overnight, but at least 15-30 minutes is a good rule of thumb.
The airbag comes off real easy, the wheel as Dan said needs a puller.....

[sonicx]

I think the general procedure is:

Disconnect battery overnight, take off airbag with 10mm bolts from back of steering wheel, remove misc electrical, remove wheel with puller, reinstall I think..

Dan


I've had my airbag out a few times, hasn't popped yet...
I wouldn't say you need to wait overnight, but at least 15-30 minutes is a good rule of thumb.The airbag comes off real easy, the wheel as Dan said needs a puller.....

Hmmm im a bit uneasy now, as to what to do. (Tell me what you think please)

Disconnect the battery & wait 30 minutes. Proceed to remove the airbag? (Is that long enough or do I really need to wait overnight or a couple hours???)

[N8's98GT]

It's real easy as others have said Jason. I have the FR500 wheel on my car (bought it back when it was only $150) and I love the way it looks and feels. I didn't even need a steering wheel puller and was able to man handle it off. Here's a good write up w/ pictures:

http://www.americanmuscle.com/fr500-steering-wheel-install.html

Here's a picture of the FR500 wheel in my car:

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk289/N8Dogg98/P8026089.jpg

EDIT: as far as the airbag, wait 15 min and you should be fine. There's a harness that you disconnect anyways.

[sonicx]

^ Nate, you dat man. (Thank You as well to d9,p51, drop top... for you help) I was just about to ask if I needed a wheel puller. Because I don't have one of those. And thanks for a 2nd opinion about how long to wait for the battery. I wish American Muscle still sold FR500 wheels and/or people didn't want 300-400 bucks for them.

Hopefully the normal Termi Cobra wheel will be almost as good :)

* Ill post up again if I got any issues, just waiting for it to be shipped to me.

[N8's98GT]

It may be a good idea to get a steering wheel puller just in case yours doesn't want to come off. O'Reilly's rents the tool for free, you just have to lay down a deposit and it's refunded when you return the tool. Good luck Jason, can't wait for some pics :D

It's lame that Ford stopped selling that wheel. I should have bought a second one just in case something happens to the one I have... oh well...

[sonicx]

Def will be heading over to my favorite parts store lol.

[Blackcoog]

I really doubt you need a puller. Even the 99 Cougar wheel I swapped for a 01 wheel was just as described above minus a puller. It's a Ford and in your year range so there is a high chance it's he same. Doesn't one of those mustang forums have a "steering wheel how to"?

[sonicx]

Thanks Blackcoog, might keep the puller close by just in case. I've learned you can't have too many tools. It always seems the least thought of tool that you never think you need actually is the tool you use. ahaha

N8's98GT posted a great instruction step by step. Planning on doing it either tonight or Sat night.

[sonicx]

So did the swap late last friday night. Well worth it, the steering wheel now feels like what a steering wheel should be. For those of you new edges guys whom aren't driving a cobra or don't have a fr500 wheel, you really need to switch. It was a bit tricky because I did need to use the steering wheel puller, except the one i rented from oriely's was junk. Ended up rigging parts of theirs will other tools to pull it off.

At the same time I decided I might as well put on a Mustang Billet Bullitt Automatic Shift Knob Black Anodized from UPR. I was sick and tired of looking at the awful automatic shift head that my car has had since day 1.

[Blackcoog]

Glad to hear you were able to get it swapped. That sucks you had to use a puller. Post pictures. :)

[N8's98GT]

Word... let's get some pictures

[sonicx]

Billet Bullitt Automatic Shift Knob Black Anodized
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5912584687_28cc23fe64.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62382191@N06/5912584687/)

Cobra Steering Wheel
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5035/5912584187_5d06a41527.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62382191@N06/5912584187/)

[N8's98GT]

looks good mang :)

[sonicx]

Thanks man :)

[ShadowGT04]

Lookin pretty good man.

[drop top]

i like that shift knob

[sonicx]

Lookin pretty good man.


i like that shift knob

Thanks. Just something different I wanted to try out. I know you can buy ones that look this http://www.carbodykits.com/images/T/Ford-Mustang-Billet-T-Handle-Shift-Knob-87-04-Auto-111783-BIL-87-ASK.jpg
but i feel like its pretty much the same as the stock except shinny. hahaha 5 speeds have soo many more options for knobs then automatics do. So far outside of the B&M shifter kit what i have in my opinion is the only thing that looks pretty legit for auto's (new edges).